Ministry highlights progress in e-commerce strategy, launches regional digital trade project
AMMAN — Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Secretary-General Dana Alzoubi on Sunday said that the launch of the "Digital Trade in the South Mediterranean" project marks a strategic step toward building an integrated digital trade ecosystem that promotes sustainable economic growth and keeps pac»»»
Bulgarian Politicians Comment on Snap Parliamentary Elections
As she went to cast her vote in the April 19 snap parliamentary elections Sunday, President Iliana Iotova said her vote went "to have a working Parliament soon, and a strong government". "I voted so that Bulgaria has a working National Assembly soon, which will elect a leadership swiftly, skip the »»»
The Spine: New hub for finance, business and tourism in Egypt by 2026
In a landmark move poised to redefine Egypt’s urban and economic landscape, Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) has unveiled its most ambitious development to date: The Spine in Madinaty. With investments exceeding EGP 1.4trn and targeted sales of more than EGP 1.7trn, the project signals a transformative »»»
Joint statement on Libya unified budget agreement
Doha: Qatar, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America welcome the signing on April 11 of a unified 2026 budget for Libya, the first Libyan national budget in over a decade and a critical step to increase eco»»»
Activists arrested, pepper-sprayed trying to remove beagles from Wis. breeding facility - UPI.com
Activists from the group Direct Action Everywhere, pictured in March rescuing beagles from a laboratory at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin, were pepper-sprayed and arrested on Saturday when trying to free more beagles from the lab. Photo by Direct Action Everywhere/Instagram April 19 (UPI) -- About two »»»
Hungary to Secure Deal With EU to Unlock Frozen Funds - Tisza Party Leader
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungary will soon conclude a comprehensive agreement with the European Union to unlock billions of euros owed to Hungary from European funds, Head of Hungary's Tisza Party Peter Magyar said on Sunday. "Over the past two days, we held high-level talks in Budapest with a European C»»»
De La Rue meets Governor of Central Bank of Libya in DC to follow up on its currency printing plan
On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank (13-18 April) held in Washington, D.C., Naji Issa, Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, and his accompanying delegation met last Friday (17 April), with Clive Vacher, CEO of the British company De La Rue»»»
328 Vote Rigging Reports, 26 Pre-trial Proceedings Launched by 4:30 p.m., Interior Ministry Secretary General Says
328 reports of election violations have been received, and 26 investigations have been launched by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Interior Ministry's acting Secretary General Georgi Kandev said in a live Facebook broadcast. Shortly after 5 p.m. caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev and the Interior Min»»»
Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over Strait of Hormuz incident
US President Donald Trump has threatened to "knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran" if Tehran does not accept a US-proposed deal, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington said involved Iranian vessels firing at French and British ships. »»»
Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over Strait of Hormuz incident
US President Donald Trump has threatened to "knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran" if Tehran does not accept a US-proposed deal, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington said involved Iranian vessels firing at French and British ships. »»»
Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over Strait of Hormuz incident
US President Donald Trump has threatened to "knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran" if Tehran does not accept a US-proposed deal, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington said involved Iranian vessels firing at French and British ships. »»»
Three US university students hurt in shooting
Three students at the University of Iowa were wounded in a shooting off campus early Sunday, the school president said. The shooting took place in an area of Iowa City not far from campus that is popular for nightlife with numerous restaurants. Police said officers responded to a report of a "large»»»
Oil prices hinge on US-Iran deal this week with ceasefire window closing
Dubai: Oil markets are entering a critical phase in the coming days, with the next directional move in crude prices likely to hinge on the outcome of a two-week ceasefire window tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global supply artery. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the »»»
Rain chances from Tuesday; marine warning issued for strong winds and high seas
DOHA: The Qatar Meteorology Department has forecast partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with chances of scattered rain across the country starting Tuesday, April 21, and continuing until the end of the week. The department also announced that a marine warning will take effect from Monday, April 20, »»»
Qatar provides technical support to Syria's finance sector
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has announced the provision of technical support and a comprehensive assessment aimed at identifying structural, regulatory, institutional, and operational gaps within the financial sector of the Syria. The initiative is being carried out in cooper»»»
Light rain, drop in temperatures, dusty weather forecast across the UAE
Light rain is expected to affect parts of the UAE’s coastal areas and islands over the next four days, starting Monday, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said. The forecast comes as the country is influenced by weak surface pressure systems, accompanied by an upper-air high-pressure extensio»»»
Bomb experts try to defuse WWII bomb near Paris
Colombes, France: Authorities evacuated thousands of residents of a Paris suburb Sunday as experts sought to defuse a World War II bomb, police said. Nearly 800 police cordoned off the site in the northwest suburb of Colombes as specialists tried but failed in one bid to remove the detonator from t»»»
Hormuz, not nukes, now defines Iran’s deterrence strategy
Dubai: Iran may not have a nuclear weapon — but it has shown it can disrupt the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, even as international bodies insist such waterways must remain open to global navigation. That tension — between capability and legitimacy — is now at the heart of how deterrence»»»
Egypt: Three killed as building ceiling collapses in Alexandria
Three people were killed and three others injured after part of an old residential building collapsed in Egypt’s coastal city of Alexandria, authorities said. According to local media reports, the incident occurred in the Gharbal area of Moharram Bek, in the central district, when the ceiling of a »»»
Watch: Dubai launches 'Work from Park' initiative with tech-enabled environments breaking office mould
Dubai: Subsequent to the recent "Work from Hotel" trend, Dubai has launched the “Work from Park” initiative that is said to provide tech-enabled environments that will break the traditional office mould. Dubai Municipality on Sunday announced the initiative, marking a strategic step towards redefin»»»
Dubai rents stay stable in Q1 as demand holds firm
Dubai: Dubai’s rental market remained steady in the first quarter of 2026, with fresh data pointing to stable demand, fewer contract cancellations and continued investor confidence. Figures from the Dubai Land Department show that rental contracts worth Dh32.2 billion were signed between January an»»»
Sharjah Coop braces for back-to-school shopping wave
Sharjah : As families across the UAE prepare for a return to in-person schooling after a prolonged period of distance learning, Sharjah Coop has reported a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour, marked by increased early planning and heightened readiness among households. Faisal Khaled Al Nabooda,»»»
'They are stealing the election': How Armenia became the next Russia-EU battlefield
Armenians are set to head to the polls in June for their parliamentary elections, which the EU and Russia are closely watching. With support for joining the bloc at an all-time high, this could be a sign that the former Soviet country is moving away from Moscow, one of its closest allies. But forei»»»
Prof. Schlevogt’s Compass No. 54: Vance’s VP dilemma – the poisoned chalice and taint of power
US Vice President J.D. Vance faces a classic bind: Loyalty to President Donald Trump ties him to a presidency that is bound to fail, yet distancing himself invites charges of disloyalty. Either course imperils his prospects of becoming the next president. His latest assignment as chief negotiator w»»»
Bulgaria heads to the polls for eighth general election in five years
Voters in Bulgaria headed to the polls Sunday for an eighth general election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev tipped to win on anti-corruption pledges. The election comes after unrest toppled Boyko Borissov’s rule and left the pro-European GERB party trailing. Bulgarians began head»»»
Video: UAE flag-raising unites faiths at BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: People of different faiths including Emirati officials joined hands at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to showcase their deep gratitude, unity, and solidarity with the leadership and people of the UAE in a special UAE flag-raising ceremony. The BAPS Hindu Mandir officially r»»»
Dubai launches Foster Families Committee to advance alternative care system
The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai convened the third meeting of the Foster Families Committee, with the participation of representatives from several relevant government entities, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the alternative care ecosystem and enhance collaborative »»»
Prime Minister Gurov Votes for Ideas and Policies
Casting his vote in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Blagoevgrad, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said he voted for a country in which entering parliament is done with ideas and policies, not with bundles of cash. Gurov said he voted for a state in which politicians govern with decency and»»»
Minister of Education visits QF’s Qatar Academy Al Khor
Visit underscores academic programs and a strong focus on values and cultural identity Doha, Qatar: Minister of Education and Higher Education, HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, visited Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Academy Al Khor, where she was welcomed by Dr. Aisha Al Muqbali, Director Ge»»»
Pakistan rolls out Hajj flights with enhanced facilities
Dubai: Pakistan has begun its Hajj flight operation, with the first pilgrims departing for Saudi Arabia as authorities roll out enhanced facilities for the annual pilgrimage, Dawn reported. Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said the government was providing pilgrims with the “best p»»»
Economic reforms boost ability to handle regional shocks, attract investment
Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom confirmed that economic reform has enhanced the state’s ability to manage the repercussions of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and stressed that the government is continuing reforms to achieve macroeconomic stability and development f»»»
HONOR Factory in Egypt Targets 3 Million Devices Annually
Cairo — Egypt is advancing its strategy to localize electronics manufacturing following high-level discussions between Raafat Hindi and executives from HONOR on expanding smartphone production in the country. According to an official statement by the Ministry of Communications and Information Techn»»»
Continue the Change Leader Assen Vassilev Votes for "Truly European Bulgaria"
Casting his vote in his hometown of Haskovo, Continue the Change leader Assen Vassilev said he hopes Bulgarians will opt for a truly European Bulgaria. He said he was encouraged by the high turnout, noting that he had to wait for about 15 minutes to cast his vote. He urged citizens to be active, st»»»
Security lockdown in Islamabad, Rawalpindi as US-Iran talks expected
Dubai: Pakistan has placed its twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on high security alert, deploying tens of thousands of personnel and suspending transport services ahead of a possible second round of high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, according to reports. More than 10,000 »»»
MECh Leader Radostin Vasilev Says Young People Can Make the Difference
Casting his vote in Sunday's parliamentary elections, the Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) party leader Radostin Vasilev said young people can make the difference today. He noted that there were many young voters in his voting section. "I voted with the confidence that a fair Bulgaria lies ahead and »»»
Crisis-hit Bulgaria votes in eighth election in five years
Sofia: Bulgaria on Sunday, April 19, 2026, held its eighth legislative election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev's grouping tipped to win on a pledge to fight corruption, after an anti-graft movement triggered a long political crisis. The European Union's poorest member has been through»»»
IMF, World Bank Meetings Show Limits in Mitigating Shocks, Reliance on US for Solutions
Global finance leaders, whipsawed by Middle East war news, came to grips this past week with their inability to mitigate the economic damage from increasingly frequent geopolitical shocks, and a realization that counting on US leadership to resolve crises is no longer the guarantee it had long been»»»
Australian Soldier Charged with War Crimes Vows to Clear His Name
An Australian former soldier charged with committing war crimes in Afghanistan vowed on Sunday to clear his name, saying he had never "run from a fight" in his first public comments since his arrest. "For the past 10 years, my family and I have been subject to a campaign to convince Australians tha»»»
Hormuz turns into gunboat bargaining table as escalation risks mount
Dubai: The Strait of Hormuz is no longer a shipping lane — it is now a gunboat-enforced negotiating table. What unfolded over the past 36 hours has stripped away any lingering illusion that the waterway is returning to normal. A brief window of optimism — sparked by Iran’s signal that the strait wa»»»
Malawi’s Minister of Health visits EIPICO Pharmaceuticals factories
•• Malawi Minister of Health: A new phase of cooperation with EIPICO has now begun, because what we saw in the company exceeds any expectation or perception. •• Dr. Olfat Ghorab: Acdima companies are the strong arm of the state in providing medicine to Africa as well. •• Dr. Ahmed Kilani: An import»»»
Hajj 2026: Kaaba works finished, first pilgrim flights land in Jeddah
Routine maintenance work at Islam’s holiest site has been completed to the highest international standards, Saudi authorities said, as the Kingdom simultaneously began welcoming the first wave of pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj season. The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the P»»»
Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered
The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in»»»
India’s economic growth outlook remains strong in spite of headwinds
Doha, Qatar: India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and rapidly transforming into an engine of global growth. During the 2000-2025, which includes the volatile years of the Global Financial Crisis and the Covid-pandemic, the average growth rate for the South-Asian giant was 6.3»»»
Next generation shines as FEI Group VII Finals end
Doha, Qatar: The FEI Regional Group VII Finals for Juniors, Cadets, and Young Riders, featuring qualifiers from the 2025-2026 equestrian season, concluded with thrilling action at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab after four days of competition. The event brought together more than 100 riders represe»»»
Commercial Bank announces key senior management appointments
Doha: Commercial Bank has announced key appointments to its senior management team, reinforcing its leadership structure to support strategic priorities, sustainable growth, and its continued commitment to developing national talent in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. As part of these appointm»»»
QIIB announces winners of FIFA World Cup 2026 Visa campaign
Doha, Qatar: QIIB has announced the winners of its promotional campaign for Visa credit and debit cardholders, launched in collaboration with Visa from February 2 to 28, 2026. The campaign offered customers the opportunity to win travel packages to attend FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. A draw was con»»»
Driving sustainable growth across The Pearl and Gewan Islands: UDC’s integrated ESG journey
As the master developer behind The Pearl and Gewan Islands, United Development Company (UDC) is shaping one of Qatar’s most distinctive urban destinations—where premium living, environmental responsibility, and community engagement are fully integrated. Across these flagship developments, UDC is ad»»»
Apex Health Qatar leads with high readiness amid global shifts and targeted initiatives supporting mental wellbeing
The View Hospital Reinforces Its Standing Through Innovation and Human-Centered Care Doha, Qatar: In light of recent regional developments and the challenges faced across the region, Apex Health, the fastest-growing healthcare groups in the region, continues to reinforce its readiness and ability t»»»
Forum aimed at improving education
Ministry of youth has held a national dialogue forum, entitled “With the power of its youth, Long Live Egypt”, chaired by Minister Khalid Abdel Aziz and under the auspices of President El-Sisi. Its second phase saw holding 61 forums in universities and institutes across different governorates to gi»»»
Hezbollah warns truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, tensions remain high
Beirut: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted on Saturday that the current 10-day truce with Israel cannot be a unilateral arrangement. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Qassem vowed that his fighters are prepared to retaliate against any Israeli strikes targeting Lebanese territory. In his init»»»